Prosecutors Demand 5-Year Prison Sentence for Meduzas Exiled Founder Galina Timchenko Amid Controversial Charges

State prosecutors are pursuing a five-year prison term for Galina Timchenko, the exiled founder and publisher of the Latvia-based news agency Meduza, under charges stemming from the outlet’s classification as an «undesirable» organization.

Timchenko is accused of facilitating the operations of an «undesirable» organization, a label applied to Meduza by the Russian General Prosecutor’s Office in 2023.

According to Russian legislation, «undesirable» organizations are prohibited from functioning within the country. Individuals associated with these organizations could face prison sentences of up to four years, while leaders may be sentenced to as much as six years.

In June 2024, a court in Moscow imposed a fine of 14,000 rubles ($177) on Timchenko for her involvement with an «undesirable» organization. Subsequently, she was charged with a more serious crime and was arrested in absentia during the summer.

Timchenko was the editor-in-chief of the news website Lenta.ru until 2014, when she was dismissed by the new owner, Kremlin-linked investor Alexander Mamut. She later moved to Latvia, where she established Meduza.

Court documents referenced by the exiled news organization Mediazona reveal that prosecutors claim Timchenko founded Meduza out of «hatred and contempt» for Russia’s political system as well as its domestic and foreign policies.

They also contend that she persisted in operating the outlet after it was labeled «undesirable» to maintain its influence within Russia, including via a mobile app that circumvents domestic restrictions.

Timchenko’s attorney requested that the court acquit her, arguing that the prosecution violates her constitutional right to freedom of expression, as reported by Mediazona.